„InnovuM“ (Innovation support measures for microsystem
technology)
Microsystem technology affects, due to its cross-sectional character,
various fields of applications. Complex high technology is in a continuous
state of dynamic development which is strongly influenced by the changing
technological and socio-economic demands. Therefore the Federal Ministry for
Edu-cation and Research is pursuing a flexible and holistic approach with
its funding policy which was in-troduced in the framework
programme “Microsystems” at the beginning of 2004.
The promotion of projects in industry-giuded research associations is at
the centre of the frame pro-gramme. The project Innovum consequently pursues
support by an approach that focuses on a variety of actors, several
preparatory strategic discourses, flanking support and result-diffusing
measures as well as the embedding into the European and international
environment. The two subsequent aims define the conceptual tasks in
Innovum:
- The actors in the frame programme “Microsystems” shall be enabled to
react strategically and operationally to the dynamics of technological
development, the challenges of the economy and the needs of the society in
due course of the programme.
- Innovation processes on single-company as well as macroeconomic level shall be acceler-ated by the reduction of innovation restrains..
This will be accomplished by focusing on the subsequent five fields of
action:
- Strategic, technology-oriented development of sectors of
innovation
The development of strategies in cooperation with research and industry to promote value chains induced by microsystem technologies in fields of innovation which are important for Germany.
- Sustained development of education and advanced training in microsystem
technology
Development of skills in companies and of persons to enhance the ability to innovate in microsystem technologies
- European integration and international cooperation
Analysis of the international competitive environment and the enhancement of the chances of Germany-based companies on the global markets.
- Support of the result and the transfer of knowledge
Adequate communication of the results and insights, gained from all measures of the frame programme “Microsystems”, to the relevant target groups using different kinds of media.
- Accompanying evaluation
Formative evaluation of all funding initiatives, projects and instruments of the frame programme “Microsystems”.
The frame programme „Microsystems“ in its industry policy-orientation takes into account the BMBF strategy to take up promotion where it will achieve an effective leverage for growth and employment as well as for boosting German research and industry in international competition. By doing so one sets store by a very open concept which is flexible in its respective placements of thematic emphasis and which will cope with the dynamic developments in the technologies, the industry-clusters induced by microsystem technologies and sectors of innovation respectively.
The concept of InnovuM is based on the idea that the micro- and macroeconomic success of mi-crosystem technology does not only depend on developments in the natural sciences and the technol-ogy sector. There areis also a number of non-technical factors that influence innovation processes. The technologies in the sector of microsystems and their applications grant numerous options for im-portant German branches of the economy and even for state run sectors of prevention like health care, environmental protection or even security. The economy is looking for innovations to enhance prod-ucts and processes that secure their competitiveness. The community and the individual on the other hand hope for social or individual benefit, welcome or reject technical developments.
The selected innovation support measures surpass the pure promotion of research and development. They are meant to help beyond project limits to lower existing barriers for the transition of research results into economically exploitable innovations, i.e. to accelerate the process from invention to inno-vation. Under these circumstances the cooperation of all participants in the innovation process is re-quired: researchers, developers, producers, distributors as well as users, customers, legislative, pub-lic funding, investors etc.
Central information and communication platform is this web portal: http://www.mstonline.de.
Project manager:
Alfons Botthof
+49 (0) 3328 435 195
botthof@vdivde-it.de
